Shadows, surrounded by the purplish tint cast by the red moon, sprawled in between the hills like twisting monstrosities as the faint scent of grass floated across the breeze.

Even though the view was completely alien to me, it was a beautiful scene, or at least it would have been if it wasn't for the dog-like creature that had dug itself from the earth and slowly started to reduce the distance between us as it stalked forward.

-"Why is it that the most beautiful things are always the most deadly. Not the dog thing though. That's a train wreck of a horror film if I had ever seen one."

The beast's black, vicious spikes rose and fell with each silent, almost unnoticeable breath as clogs of dirt fell to the ground before tumbling down the slope. The falling earth broke up the outline of the creature, being hidden in the darkest of shadows, causing my overactive mind to contemplate that this could be more than a mere, flesh and blood entity.

For all I knew, it was. Stranger things had happened to me recently.

Deep in the recesses of my mind, thousands of thoughts crashed into each other. Some in shock on how much my four senses, ignoring taste, seemed to improve, some were asking why the creature had the shape of a dog on an alien world but most focused on the small issue of how the hell I was going to survive to witness another sunrise.

Luckily for me, with each step the creature took, the tingling fear that raced up my spine and set my hair on edge began to diminish, absorbed by the numb abyss of whatever had been done to my mind.

Apart from the anger that was simmering menacingly underneath, my panicked thoughts settled and soon I was analysing my opponent with cold, calculating logic.

-"What's the worst that can happen? I die from being chewed instead of starvation, thirst, disease, alien overlord or some other crap that I have no control over. Least this way I can have my pound of flesh."

It probably sounds strange for one who has the semi irrational hatred of small, enclosed spaces and has a new healthy respect for heights, bordering on a phobia, but I had no problems facing my own mortality. If anything, there was a part of me that looked forward to the endless sleep. Where I wouldn't have to deal with the mundane crap that was called life. It wasn't a big part, and I would never intentionally speed it up, but neither would I go to the other extreme and try and live forever.

I chuckled. -"Who am I kidding. My pride and stubbornness would never allow me to give up. Even though I do not fear death, if it would inconvenience my opponents, I would fight tooth and nail to remain in the world of the living."

The female, disembodied voice echoed in my mind as, for some unknown reason, I replayed what she had said about adaptive evolution. -"Thought, emotion and need huh? Then wouldn't life and death situations be the ideal catalyst? Though it looks like the emotional blocker is a double edged sword. Yes, it may keep us alive by keeping us thinking, but it also limits our growth during the week time limit if it is what drives the process."

Though I initially discarded everything the voice said that I couldn't prove, my control over my body and ability to see in the dark had provided, at least with some reasonable doubt, that what she said had some merit.

Without realising it, once again I had become lost in thought, and it was only the sudden movement of the creatures golden eyes, locking onto mine, that brought me back.

Staring into its eyes, I sighed, crossing off the hope that the creature could just be a disturbed herbivore defending its territory. -"Definitely a predator."

I was as much of an unknown to it as it was to me, and so it was extremely cautious, yet when I refused to break eye contact, staring back in full defiance of being looked at like a cheap take away meal after a night out, the creature snarled, revealing rows of razor sharp teeth.

I grimaced. -"A scary as fuck predator with lots of teeth."

Strangely, instead of fear, I feel my lips curl into a smile, and although I can't see it, I assume it is not a very friendly gesture as the creature flinches.

A shiver of excitement runs down my spine. -"Great, seems my little fall has turned me into an adrenaline junkie."

Pushing any unnecessary thoughts to the back of my mind, I focus.

I had three options, each as terrible as the last. I could bluff, run or, if I felt incredibly lucky, which going by everything so far, I wasn't, I could fight.

The creature was not only was the size of the dog, but had a very similar vibe regarding its body structure and, coupled with the sensation of my stomach being pierced with a thousand flaming swords from whatever was causing the cramp, running didn't seem like a good option. It was probably faster than me, and I would lose any advantage I had if I turned my back.

Fighting a creature that looked like a porcupine, Pitbull and shark's evil love child didn't seem that great an idea either, so I decided on my only alternative, to try and bluff.

Maintaining eye contact with Spikes, the name I had given my current arch nemesis, I lowered my stance and brought my arms up slightly, copying a martial art I attempted to learn at one point that focused on utilising your opponents momentum and power against them. It was a shame I decided that it would never be used and abandoned like many of the rest but hindsight's a bitch and life is full of regrets.

The goal was to make myself look as intimidating as possible while getting into the best position possible in case the critter decided that shish kabob human was on the menu.

"HHIIIIIIIISSSS~."

A reptilian hiss, the kind that makes your blood freeze in your veins, erupted from the creature's mouth as its spikes shook, generating a haunting scraping sound. It was a very impressive lesson on how to intimidate your foe.

-"Consider me schooled... Spikes 1, me 0."

Intelligence flashed across the creatures, beautiful yet haunting, silver eyes, and I swear I almost saw its lips curve into a sneer as the creature shifted its weight to its back legs and lifted its front half off the floor.

I had spectacularly lost the first, pre fight mind battle yet I could not figure out if we were going for round two, or the bell was about to be rung to start the main event.

I didn't have to wait long for an answer.

Without warning, two small barbs shot out from its back legs, completely hidden in Spike's black fur, one missing my head by a fraction of an inch while the other slammed into my shoulder with a sickening thud.

It happened so fast that even with my night vision, I hadn't seen the projectiles or felt any pain, even as I glanced down and watched the blood stream down my chest. -"That's going to leave a bruise in the morning."

Almost as if the universe had enough of my terrible jokes, even if I was keeping them to myself at the moment, searing pain erupted, engulfing my left side and nearly staggering me to my knees.

Spike, sensing my momentary weakness, took a step forward, its silver eyes sparkling with malevolent intent and with the expression, I could only link to licking its lips in anticipation.

Gritting my teeth, I steadied myself.

I had lost the bluff and even incurred an injury that removed any possibility that I could run. In fact, an injury, even if it wasn't as severe as mine looked, in an unknown landscape was a serious handicap and could easily prove fatal.

-"Seems like that bitch Fate has made the decision for me."

Even with the crippling pain, I felt my features twist into a feral snarl as I began utilising my new found control over my heart and lungs, pushing them into overdrive. I didn't really know what I was doing, and I was probably going to die, but some sick, twisted part inside of me was determined that if it was indeed my time, I was going to give this spiky fuck a nervous twitch for the rest of its days and a hearty dose of indigestion.

The simmering anger in my gut started to boil.

An old man's face, white hair pooling off to the sizes as his light blue eyes glowed with the intensity of life, appeared in my mind's eye. 'It's sad, but you will never know who you truly are until you are starring Death's messenger in the face. Many fall into despair, others will try and gracefully accept their fate, but for a small few, they realise that, though they have nothing left to lose, they refuse to be relegated to history and the once was. Those people, with their new found conviction, will change the world. Though for good or bad, only time will tell.'

The wizened man revealed a sad smile as he tapped a jagged scar running down his arm. 'If you are anything like me, my grandson, I pity the idiot who forces you into a corner because they will discover that, instead of the helpless, hairless monkey it thought it had cornered, it is facing a raging lion.'

My muscles slightly relaxed and the pain starts to dim as my face hardens. The memory, of a person from my past with words that seemed complete and utter nonsense yet, in my current situation, were like a life buoy thrown to a drowning man, causing my hair to stand on end.

The memory was the proverbial stick that broke the camels back and all the emotions that had been muted burst forth. Fear, uncertainty, doubt flittered amongst the swirling vortexes of anger and frustration.

I wanted to scream out at the injustice of my situation. I wouldn't say I was a good man, but I had never done anything malicious that wasn't deserved, yet here I stood. On an alien world, with no real idea what was going on, about to be ripped apart by some freak of nature and for what?

This wasn't some act of God or butterfly effect, and even if I was chosen somewhat randomly, just another unknown test subject, to me, this was personal and the desire to make someone pay was overwhelming.

"Fuck you, fuck this and fuck everything you stand for." My voice broke the silence, horse sounding and laced with wrath.

It didn't matter to me that the animal in front of me was probably in the same situation. It didn't matter than it was only obeying the laws of nature, survival of the fittest, that it could have a family, friends maybe even some sort of dog like religion where it was the head priest.All that mattered that it stood against me.

All that mattered that it stood against me and in doing so, needed to die.

My foot slammed into the ground as I took a step forward, muscles coiling underneath my skin as I released a sub conscious growl.

They wanted uncontrolled evolution, to see what would happen when mankind was pushed to its limits. I was more than willing to show them though, if I ever had even the smallest chance, I would make them regret they were born.

The growl that started out incredibly human deepened until I faintly felt my chest vibrate though most of the sound was blotted out by the thunderous beating of my heart.

As a human, I was average at best but here, on an alien world with nothing but my birthday suit, the need to be something more, yet less, solidified. A new devil had been born and, casting my inner child and adult aside, it started building its throne of skulls. Its promise of vengeance and blood, as sweet and intoxicating as a lover's touch.

Hooping noises, probably the alert call of the cow-like creatures, rose into the air as the rubble of a small stampede started to fade in the opposite direction. I paid it no mind as I stopped repressing my emotions, using the frustrations and anger to add fuel to my inner fire as I demanded everything I could from my body.

The black barb in my shoulder was ejected by the sheer pressure of blood pounding through my veins, which soon mixed with the sweat streaming my body as I continued to growl, faintly wondering just where on earth I had managed to get so much air into my lungs as I had not taken a breath in some time.

In my peripheral, I could see a faint glimmer of steam rising off my body, probably the result of increasing my heart rate. The inner adult screamed that I needed to stop and calm down, but he was instantly silenced by his new room mate, disembowelled and sent hurling into the dark recesses of my mind. This wasn't the time for half measures.

I would kill or be killed, eat or be eaten. To hesitate was death.

Those that I needed to protect or impress were not here. They were no longer relevant. The chains that had shackled me on Earth where missing and with it, I felt truly alive as I teetered on the edge of Death's blade.

The beast within roared in triumph, raising its voice to declare that a new predator was born. One that would not cower in the darkness like my ancestors had, but own it.

My throat stung, and my lungs finally deflated.

It wasn't the beast bellowing into the night sky, it was me and... it felt good~.

Emotions raged inside as my eyes once again locked onto the creature who had driven me to this point, who, instead of attacking while I was dealing with my inner turmoil, had actually taken a few steps back. The confidence that had once emanated from its eyes now showing the distinct hints of fear.

I stomped forward again, and the creature retreated, however, when I took the next step, it seemed that my aggressive actions had gone too far and the beast lurched forward, using its powerful back legs to leap into the air and towards my chest.

-"Inner legs, inner arms, throat and stomach. Eyes."

Stooping lower into my crouch, I watched the creature approach as I quickly made a mental list of all the area's I didn't want it to find.

When it was no more than a few feet away, I lifted my left arm, the damage to the shoulder making it useless for anything other than a shield, and presented it to the approaching teeth as I started to fall backwards, preparing to take the animal's attack with as little damage as possible.

Pain once again shot through my nerves as the sharp teeth closed on my forearm and I prayed that the creature did not have a powerful bite. Thin sharp teeth often indicated an animal that rendered the flesh from its prey instead of a crushing bite, but there were always exceptions, especially for those that could regrow their teeth.

-"What if it has a poisonous bite?"

Even as I threw myself back, bringing my knees to my chest with my feet pointing upwards, my mind was coming up with problems that it was already too late to solve.

-"What is done, is done. The spikes were more likely to be poisoned anyway... which would explain the crushing pain followed by spreading numbness. Add in the fact my heart is beating as fast as a sugar-filled, diabetic kid in a candy shop, if its bad, I am already fucked so why worry."

Time seemed to slow, but if that was because Death was preparing to welcome me into his cold embrace, my senses were in overdrive or some sort of adaptation, I did not know or care. It gave me just about enough time to come up with a plan, even if I had already wasted the first opportunity.

My back slammed into the ground and was already sliding to the bottom of the mini valley as my feet shot upwards, smashing into the unprotected stomach of Spike, that was currently distracted using my arm as a chew toy.

I needed to reset the fight and get him to attack again, and for that, I needed distance.

Whether due to landing a devastating blow, shock that it had been hit or just because it had decided that the arm was now useless, the creature released its grip but it was too late.

Spinning helplessly in the air, the creature flew over my head and awkwardly hit the ground, though not before using its tail which turned out to be incredibly sharp, to leave a bleeding trail across my chest and cheek.

Somehow I had known what was happening and managed to move my head to the side just in time or, in addition to the scarlet trail of blood, I would be missing an eye.

Without pause, I heaved myself to my feet, twisting so I could keep an eye on my opponent as I twitched my muscles and tentatively stretched to gauge the damage.

-"Not good."

I needed to be faster, I needed to be stronger. I needed to heal these wounds or, even if I somehow won, I would be crippled. My skin was too weak, the creature had munched on me as if I was a wet paper bag filled with tasty morsels.

My muscles, along with my stomach screamed in agony as my heart hammered into my ribs. I could not see much of my arm, having only spared a quick glance but I can definitely say it no longer looked arm like. More like mangled flesh on a stick.

-"2, 0 . Maybe I need sharper teeth as well. Seems to work for Spike here"

This was it, I maybe had one more round left in me and then, if what I suspected to be poison didn't kill me, blood loss would probably finish the job. How I wished I could somehow stem the bleeding but I knew even if I could adapt, it wouldn't be quick enough. The eyes seemed to take hours and that was only enhancing, as far as I knew, what was already there.

I wanted to roar my defiance at the creature, but human shouts were pathetic and weak. I wanted it to tremble in fear, to realise that even in victory, it would lose. I wanted it to cower in the shadows, the memory of the naked chimp haunting it's every waking moment but, the tank was nearly empty and my vision had started to dim.

-"Do or die time."

I felt my throat crack and the bitter sweet taste of blood trickle down my throat, adding to my list of injuries. It seemed that instead of quietly giving up, my body wanted to destroy itself.

I chuckled, wanting to shake my head but resisted due to the pain it elicited from the shoulder -"Seems like me and my body agree on something at last."

While I had checked the state of my body, Spike had not been idle and, after getting back on its feet, which now I saw were hoofed, it started raised itself back onto its hind legs.

I tensed, watching for even the smallest hint of movement. -"Don't shoot, please jump. Jump. JUMP. JUMP."

Almost as if obeying my desire, to be able to move if the beast jumped, the pain started to diminish, though subconsciously I hoped it wasn't just because my body was shutting down.

-"Time's ticking. Need to get a move on."

Taking a step forward I growled, similar to what I had done earlier but this time, the deep rumble reverberated through my chest and out of my throat, causing my whole body to shake, shocking both me and spike.

There was nothing even remotely human about the sounds and I loved it. It was as if I was shedding the fragile shell of my past. -"Hmm, maybe I have one or two hangups."

Mentally shrugging, I fainted taking a step forward, and Spike fell for it, lunging at me before retreating to a safe distance. Whatever was happening to my body could be worked out later. If I survived, that is.

The fight had started as one of predator and prey but had slowly transformed into one of the most important events of my life. It wasn't because I could be killed and would answer one of the greatest questions ever, but that the creature in front of me, along with this alien world, could be my salvation or, more than likely, my doom.

Regret, confusion, anger and a plethora of other emotions ran through the creatures silver eyes and, if sensing that the meal in front of it was no longer worth it, it took a step back.

-"Sorry, no refunds."

I was pretty sure if Spike left, I would die. I would probably die anyway, but my cracked raw throat and crippling stomach would be a terrible way to go. Even if it was the raw blood and flesh of an alien creature, at this point in time, I was willing to risk it.

I leapt forward, launching myself towards Spike, screaming as I put everything I had into the attack.

There would be no second chances. Either the creature would fall in the next thirty seconds, or I would.

Victory or Death. To live or Die.

-"I love it when things are simple."